Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes can cause changes to the blood vessels inside the eyeball, leading to damage and loss of vision. Some forms of diabetic retinopathy just require monitoring, whilst more serious changes require treatment.
Further information
If you suffer from diabetes and your blood sugar levels are too high, the blood vessels inside your eyes can become blocked or leaky over time.
If detected in the early stages, simply ensuring that your diabetes is well-controlled can be sufficient, but more advanced retinopathy may require laser surgery or injections into the eyeball.
In addition to controlling your blood sugar and blood pressure levels effectively, you should attend a diabetic retinopathy screening clinic regularly. Other risk factors for this condition include being overweight, poor diet, smoking and lack of exercise.